German Customs Seizes Illegal E-Cigs and Tobacco Products Worth over 71,000 Euros

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Feb.27.2024
German Customs Seizes Illegal E-Cigs and Tobacco Products Worth over 71,000 Euros
German customs in Dortmund uncovered an illegal e-cigarette stash worth over 71,000 euros, triggering a tax evasion investigation.

According to Extremnews on February 26, on February 15, German Dortmund customs inspected a wholesaler in Castrop-Rauxel.

 

During the inspection, law enforcement officers discovered a total of 21,049 unsellable disposable e-cigarettes in a garage, with a total e-liquid content of 357.302 liters. Additionally, 2,230 cans of chewing tobacco were found. The tax loss amounted to 71,460.40 euros, and related tax criminal proceedings have been initiated at the scene of the incident.

 

The German Customs Administration in Dortmund has decreed that starting from July 1, 2022, e-liquid will be included in the tobacco tax category. By January 1, 2024, the amount per milliliter will increase from 0.16 cents to 0.20 cents. According to Article 14 of the German Tobacco Products Act, disposable e-cigarettes for sale must not exceed a maximum capacity of 2 milliliters (up to 800 puffs). Additionally, the circulation of oral tobacco (snus) within Europe is also subject to strict restrictions. With laws, regulations, and administrative provisions governing the manufacture, display, and sale of tobacco products among member states of the European Union, except for Sweden, commercial marketing of oral tobacco is prohibited. According to Article 11 of the Tobacco Products Act, the sale of tobacco intended for oral consumption and chewing tobacco is prohibited.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Ireland Vape Bill Passes Dáil, Setting Limits on Flavours, Packaging and Retail Display
Ireland Vape Bill Passes Dáil, Setting Limits on Flavours, Packaging and Retail Display
Ireland’s Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 has passed final stage in the Dáil and will move to the Seanad, with measures to limit vape flavours to tobacco or unflavoured products and tighten rules on packaging colours, retail advertising, in-store displays and sales of nicotine pouches to minors.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives
China’s Jinhua Tobacco Launches CNY 2.7 Million Procurement for E-Cigarette Violation Lead Monitoring Services
China’s Jinhua Tobacco Launches CNY 2.7 Million Procurement for E-Cigarette Violation Lead Monitoring Services
Jinhua Tobacco, a municipal tobacco company in China’s Zhejiang province, has launched a public tender for e-cigarette-related violation lead monitoring and consulting services. The project is valued at CNY 2.7 million and covers data resource integration and analytical consulting services for 36 months from contract signing. The procurement reflects the use of external data and analysis services to support local tobacco companies’ market oversight activities related to e-cigarettes.
Aug.07
Germany Seizes 56 Pallets of Illegal Vapes, Probe Estimates €1.8 Million Tax Loss
Germany Seizes 56 Pallets of Illegal Vapes, Probe Estimates €1.8 Million Tax Loss
German authorities have seized dozens of pallets of illegal disposable vapes in a criminal investigation, with the products estimated to have caused at least €1.8 million in tax losses. The case has also raised concerns over cross-border supply chains linked to unauthorized nicotine products entering the European market.
Jul.14
2FIRSTS EXCLUSIVE|China Breaks Up $6.8 Million Illegal Hookah Tobacco Operation as Market Expands
2FIRSTS EXCLUSIVE|China Breaks Up $6.8 Million Illegal Hookah Tobacco Operation as Market Expands
Chinese authorities have dismantled an illegal hookah tobacco operation worth more than 46 million yuan ($6.8 million), detaining five foreign suspects and seizing over 500,000 boxes of tobacco paste. The case comes as hookah expands across China’s nightlife sector and attracts overseas operators, including former vaping entrepreneurs. It also raises a central regulatory question: whether waterpipe tobacco will follow China’s private-sector e-cigarette licensing model or be reserved for the state tobacco system, as with nicotine pouches, in the years ahead.
Jul.31
Philip Morris Romania Executive on Smoke-Free Strategy: How IQOS Spaces Are Moving Beyond Retail to Consumer Connection
Philip Morris Romania Executive on Smoke-Free Strategy: How IQOS Spaces Are Moving Beyond Retail to Consumer Connection
In an interview with Romanian marketing publication IQads, Marek Gębski, Director of Smoke-Free Products at Philip Morris Romania, said IQOS experience spaces are evolving from traditional retail locations into platforms for consumer engagement and brand connection. Through locations such as IQOS Boutique Victoriei, PMI aims to use design, culture and consumer experiences to strengthen communication with adult consumers about smoke-free products. The interview highlights how tobacco companies are expanding smoke-free strategies beyond products toward experiential marketing and consumer relationships.
Aug.11
China Tobacco Regulator Deputy Head Visits Laos as Both Sides Strengthen Cooperation on Illegal Tobacco Trade
China Tobacco Regulator Deputy Head Visits Laos as Both Sides Strengthen Cooperation on Illegal Tobacco Trade
China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported that Liu Sanjiang, deputy head and Party group member of China’s tobacco regulator, led a delegation to Laos from July 31 to Aug. 2, 2026, for discussions with Lao authorities on combating cross-border illegal tobacco trade. The two sides discussed areas including law enforcement cooperation, information sharing and efforts to address tobacco-related illegal activities such as counterfeiting and smuggling. The visit highlights cooperation between Chinese and Lao authorities on illicit tobacco control.
News
Aug.05